Chapter 6
Briar
Silus’s punch echoed like a gunshot in the chamber.
My body snapped to attention.
What the actual fuck!
Vad staggered backward, slamming into the doorframe. Pain twisted his features as he struck his wounded side and fresh blood seeped through the already soaked bandage. He grunted as he shot one clawed hand out and dug into the wooden shelf beside him to keep himself from falling.
"This is all your fault," Silus spat, looming over Vad with rage burning in his eyes. "Every death. Every drop of blood. It's on your hands!” His voice cracked. “And now our magic is gone. All of it, because of her. I told you she was trouble. I bet you regret your decision now."
Vad rebounded, moving past me to get to him, but I linked, Stop. Please. For me. He’s upset, scared, and hurt. Let me handle this.
Silus’s words had cut because he was right. The loss of magic had been because Vad chose me. Maybe he did regret it, and the fated mate bond was the only reason he was being protective of me. Not by choice but a fated duty.
Vad stopped at my side and pressed a hand to his wound.
Silus pointed a trembling hand toward Elara. “If she dies because of you, I swear, by everything I am, I’ll spend the rest of eternity making you pay."
My blood warmed at that threat. How dare he threaten his king and my mate!
Vad’s face paled, and his silver-gray eyes blazed. If he doesn’t shut up, I will intervene.
“Fecking void, Silus!” Thalen jumped to his feet, his voice sharp with disbelief. “Are you trying to die?”
Myantha turned away, covering her face. Veralt raised an unimpressed brow, and Rhielle rocked back on her heels.
“Vad.” The ragged whisper came from Elara, who stirred weakly on the mat.
Not moving his hand from Elara’s arm, Vyraetos frowned.
My pulse raced faster. Now he was even upsetting Elara. Something had to give.
“What the hell are you attacking him for, idiot?” Quen’s voice cracked like one of her fire whips.
Vad's breaths were shallow, each inhale hissing through clenched teeth. "Silus—" He ground out.
I launched myself forward, my bloodstained wedding gown tangling around my legs. My shoulder slammed into Silus’s side, driving him into the wooden floor with a thud.
Before he could recover, my hand was at his throat, my fingers locked around the soft flesh beneath his jaw, my face inches from his with my teeth bared.
A low growl vibrated in my chest, my wolf surging beneath my skin.
How dare he lay hands on Vad! The man who’d saved all of us and led us through hell. And he called himself his friend?
If I didn’t know how much Elara loved Silus....
"Touch him again,” I snarled, tightening my grip just enough to restrict his movement, “and I'll rip your throat out."
Silus's eyes widened, his hands flying up to claw at my grip. His pulse hammered beneath my fingers while his breath came in strangled gasps. The acrid scent of his fear and shock filled my nostrils.
I didn’t let go. "He’s your king and your friend. He does not deserve this betrayal.
"You’ve made it clear you want Elara to live, which we all want as well, but right now, you’re the one getting in the way.
” My voice dropped to a dangerous low. “You want someone to blame? Fine. Blame the people who attacked us. Blame the traitors. Blame whoever orchestrated this.” I snarled.
“But don’t you dare blame the man who’s been fighting beside us to keep everyone alive. ”
I released him and stepped back, my hands trembling at my sides.
Silus slumped against the door, coughing, rubbing his throat. His eyes flicked from me to Vad, his fire dulled but not gone.
The room had fallen silent, everyone frozen in place as they watched us.
"We've already lost Velessa and Yuki." The words felt like sandpaper against my throat. "And that was after Vad and Elara lost their father, King Merrick.” My voice cracked. “So many have died.”
I met each of their gazes, one by one. “If we fall apart now, we hand them everything. The throne. The realm. Our lives. Fighting each other only makes their job easier.”
Silus bowed his head but didn’t look away. A hint of something passed through his eyes. Respect? Guilt? Both?
He straightened his surcoat and lifted his chin. “As you say, Your Majesty.”
Vad stepped beside me, his hand resting on my shoulder with a comforting buzz. A slow, approving thrum pulsed through our bond, deeper than words, rising above the pain and anger still roiling in him.
“The last thing we need is to turn on one another,” he said, voice level but firm.
His gaze locked on Silus. “After we reclaim the palace and everyone we care for is safe, if you still have grievances, we can settle them formally. Duel, if we must. But until then…” His wings flared behind him, his body still taut with pain, but he didn’t flinch.
“Channel your rage toward the ones hunting us.
“But if you ever lay a hand on Briar, even raise your voice to her, I’ll end you where you stand.”
Silus’s upper lip curled, but he said nothing.
“I don’t want you two fighting.” Elara rose on shaky legs.
Her fingers dug into Vyraetos’s shoulder as she steadied herself and stood.
“None of this is Vad’s or Briar’s fault.
Something else is happening. Something bigger than all of us.
The only way we’ll have a chance to survive is if we stop acting like enemies and start fighting like a family. ”
Vyraetos spoke softly. “Wise words, Your Highness, but may I suggest refraining from walking until we’ve gotten you the proper medications? Standing will be far more feasible after you have been fully treated.”
Elara’s jaw clenched. Despite the pallor in her cheeks, fire flashed in her dark-blue eyes. She pressed the palm of her hand against the wall. “I’m not walking. I’m standing. And I want to know what's going on. Do we have any idea what happened up there?”
“Not fully.” Vyraetos gave her arm a small tug, guiding her back with care. “But treating injuries must come first. Once everyone’s stable, we’ll determine our next course of action.”
“I am stable,” Elara snapped. “However, my brother was shot, and he’s pretending it doesn’t hurt when I know it does.” She threw Vad a cutting look that dared him to argue. “Before he goes off on his next escapade, that must be dealt with.”
“I agree.” I nodded and raised an eyebrow at my mate as his mouth opened. “He needs to be treated before we leave for the Healing Hall.”
Vad frowned, but he shook his head. “I don’t need anyone to see to my injuries until yours are tended.”
Turning both palms up in surrender, Vyraetos shrugged. “You see, Your Majesty? I’m outnumbered.”
Vad’s face hardened. “I said I don’t need anyone to deal with my wounds until Briar’s are tended to first.”
I smirked, knowing victory was in my grasp. “Perfect. So you’ll let them treat you once I’m handled?”
“That is what I said.” His brow creased.
“Perfect, because I’m fine!” I spread my arms wide and rolled my shoulders. “Wolf healing. Shifting allows my wounds to heal quicker.”
“Convenient,” Vad scoffed. He shrugged off his blood-soaked surcoat and draped it over a shelf, then undid the remains of his black tunic, blood still slick across his ribs.
Vyraetos lifted a box marked with a staff symbol, peeled back the lid, and removed a roll of bandages and a jar of thick salve.
“Is there anything in there that will help Thalira and Elara?” I folded my arms. “Thalira needs something to stop the bleeding.”
“She’s stable, but not for long,” Vyraetos said without looking up. “We’ll do what we can here, but without the antidote…”
I nodded grimly. “Then we move quickly. It could take us hours to come back with what she needs.”
Across the room, Many-Greats knelt beside Thalira, pressing a small silver flask to her lips. She drank hesitantly and grimaced. Quen joined them, checking Thalira’s skin and arms for glass fragments—searching for the same signs that had marked Yuki before she died.
A tight ache cinched my chest. Grief coiled sharp and fresh in my throat, and I swallowed it back.
Myantha crossed to me and gently placed her hand over mine. Her dark brown eyes shimmered, glassy with unshed tears. “I’ll help you get the medicine if you want. But you have to know—I never meant to hurt you. I would never hurt you, Briar. I swear it. If it weren’t for you, I’d be dead.”
I inhaled slowly, but not a trace of sulfur laced the air.
Trusting people had already cost me too much… but magic was gone here, so she couldn't cover up the smell.
I squeezed her hand. “I believe you.”
Tears slid down her cheeks, and she ducked her head with a sniff. “I can’t believe Yuki and Velessa are gone.”
My throat tightened. “I know.” The weight of grief pressed on my chest, and tears stung as they filled my eyes. I forced them back. Now wasn’t the time. If I started crying, I wouldn’t be able to stop. “We’ll get through this and bring their killers to justice.”
Vad cast a glance in our direction. Does that lie-smelling ability of yours ever mislead you?
Not this time because no one has magic. It’s hard to get the spell right to cover the scent of a lie, and the fae aren’t aware that I have the ability. People can manipulate it with half-truths or omissions, but Myantha isn’t doing that.
Across the room, Quen growled with frustration. “So it was Calla Lily we should have been watching, not Kaylen. Figures.”
“What happened to Kaylen?” Elara asked weakly. “It looked like they were dragging her away. That would suggest she wasn’t involved in the decision-making, or perhaps she’d served her purpose.” She hesitated. “And Calla Lily…I don’t remember seeing her.”
“She vanished,” I said, my thoughts racing. “The Aureline guards had Kaylen though. There weren’t many of them in the Ceremonial Hall, and I didn’t spot Calla Lily anywhere near the fighting."
I glanced at Myantha again, pressing my fist against my chest. “How would Calla Lily have gotten the knives into everyone’s pockets? And why?”